Is there no alternative to auctioning Raja, the elephant, who has been performing for so many years in the Zoo and who killed its mahout? If mahouts know their job (which includes a smattering of mantras) how is it possible that none of them ever seem to know when their wards are about to lose control?
Animals are wrested by man away from their free habitat and then traumatized - limbs twisted, ears torn, minds dulled and warped, natural instincts suppressed by means of the chain, whip and goad, wielded by men, whose sadistic impulses must surely be to the forefront in their gleeful attempts to 'deanimalize' the helpless beasts.
Why is everybody so surprised when the target of any animal, whose tormented nerves snap under the strain of perpetual, cruel bondage, is its habitual tormentor? In this context, the food and drink meted out to keep the animal's misery alive, is hardly a cause for gratitude. When Raja is an animal, how dare we judge him with our human yardstick?
We find it surprising that the veterinarians who had Raja under their care, and who have been schooled in the temperament and instinctive behaviour of animals, should be so unsympathetic towards Raja's plight as to consign him to auction. With his reputation, his new owner could perhaps immediately chain all his four legs - not just three, as was done at the zoo - and subject him to forced, backbreaking labour, before death comes to his release.
We cannot believe, as it is being said, that the zoo authorities are smacking their lips in anticipation of the one million rupees falling into the coffers by this ignominious sale. Considering the amount earned by the Zoo by Raja's performing powers, albeit under duress, is it not the duty of its authorities to make arrangements for his retirement - firstly, in a suitable environment by way of an acclimatization period, away from the other zoo elephants, leading thereafter to release into the wilds?
We expect his veterinarians at least to view his case with compassion, knowing that Raja himself can make no plea.
I am amazed by the persistent demand of a few misguided Sri Lankans who believe that all principal places and streets should be named after some patriot or politician forgetting or ignoring the fact that these names are given for practical purposes to facilitate local and foreign visitors to locate their destinations.
If we want to really honour great men of Sri Lanka we should do so with dignified statues and tombstones in appropriate places, a considerable time after their demise when people will see their greatness! Is it not ridiculous to name streets with breathtaking, jaw breaking names particularly for tourists.
I think it is important particularly at a time the government is considering a devolution of power that all Sri Lankans consider themselves as citizens of the world and not foolishly be misled by outdated views of caste, creed and race!
About six years ago the Ministries of Plan Implementation and of Health, with assistance from UNICEF, conducted a campaign to reduce the incidence of Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD). The public were informed that IDD included faltering of both physical and mental growth, that adequate amounts of iodine should be taken by an individual throughout his/her life, especially during pregnancy, and that using iodised salt is the cheapest and most convenient way of ensuring an adequate iodine intake. A gazette notification published a few years ago made it mandatory that all salt for human consumption be iodised. Officials in the Health Ministry were trained to detect the presence of iodine in salt consumed in our households and that Ministry was given the responsibility of monitoring the programme. The Salt Corporation was given equipment needed for iodising salt produced in Hambantota and Puttalam.
After all this "noise" one expects that all salt available in the market to be adequately iodised and that most of the salt from our salterns is being iodised. But is this the position?
All salt sold to consumers islabelled "iodised" but there is no monitoring at all, by the Health Ministry or any other Ministry. Salt production has been privatized and the Ministry of Industries is no longer responsible for producing iodised salt. The private company continues to produce salt but, I am informed does not bother to iodise it. All iodised salt in the market is said to be imported. The public is being fooled and no one seems to care! Our children will continue to be stunted and school drop outs will continue to be large.
Is the Government really interested in improving the nutritional status of our people?
I write in reference to the ongoing dispute between the R/AMPs and the Government, and wish to express my views on the matter.
The confrontation has apparently flared up due to a policy decision taken by the Health Ministry to appoint MBBS qualified doctors to fill all vacancies created by R/AMPs retiring or resigning from Government Service for whatever reason, including vacation of post, dismissal or compulsory retirement on disciplinary grounds.
There does not appear to be any decision to abolish the R/AMPs Service in its entirety or to retire the Serving Officers compulsorily. Thus all the present holders of this Office would continue to be in service till they retire. Therefore no injustice is apparently contemplated or caused to them. I believe, the service to which they belong will cease to exist when the last R/AMP retires/resigns etc., at a distant future date. It is presumed this is the rationale of the Ministry's thinking.
If this is so, there could be no discernible, valid or reasonable objection to the decision of the Ministry. I endorse this as a step in the right direction, taken in the public interest. The health of the nation should be a matter of utmost importance and vital concern for a government. It is its duty to provide the best possible service, within the resources available.
I think it is an irrefutable fact that a person who has an MBBS degree possesses a higher knowledge of medicine and allied matters than an RMP or AMP. As such no one can cavil at the decision to allow the public to take their health problems to MBBS doctors.
It will be of interest to delve into the history of the R/AMPs. During the period when we were a British Colony, our rulers in their wisdom, recruited and trained a cadre of medical personnel and designated them "Apothecaries". This nomenclature was patently an anachronism but the term remained till fairly recent times. The concise Oxford Dictionary defines an apothecary as a druggist/pharmaceutical chemist. However our apothecaries, of an earlier era, performed important medical functions, during the colonial period and even after Independence. They were in charge of all government medical institutions in the country other than those in the large towns.
They were, in fact, the backbone of the medical spectrum and performed a great and valuable service to our people. I have had dealings with some of these gentlemen and I have the highest regard for their capabilities. It is apt to pay our respects to them and remember them with deep gratitude.
However, as time went by, the "Apothecaries" clamoured for better recognition and a change of their archaic designation. The authorities responded and the "Apothecaries" became AMPs. Those with 10 years of service were allowed to call themselves "Doctors" and were designated RMPs. That was changed. The old order yielding place to new.
Gradually, MBBS doctors came to be appointed to almost all the State's hospitals which were earlier in charge of R/AMPs. This process is, I believe, now complete. The R/AMPs function as subordinates of the doctor in charge. The system functions smoothly.
Now the Health Ministry proposes to proceed to the next logical stage, i.e., to man all hospitals with medical graduates. As stated earlier this is for the wellbeing of our people and I think everybody should support this move. The axiom that the interests of a small group of people should give way to changes effected for the greater good of the vast majority should prevail.
The authorities should consider the grievances of the serving R/AMPs and grant redress. This is only fair and their due. It is fervently hoped that the Health Ministry will be able to implement their proposal without a head on collision with the R/AMPs. I wish both parties good luck for the achievement of a reasonable and just settlement.
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